Backwater Cruising in Kerala

Well, it isn't a sailboat, but much larger and more comfortable. Ori and Ricci (Australian) had met Jess and Tom (Canadian) earlier in their India adventures, and had made plans to meet in Allepey to rent a houseboat together. Sarah and I joined them for the two-day motor-assisted drift. The boat slowly cruised the backwaters of Kerala, one of the finer tourist opportunities in Southern India. Lonely Planet says it will be the most expensive thing you do, but well worth the money. I agree. We all trudged through about 40 boats before choosing one, and Ori led the bargaining. We'd get all meals and 48 hours on the water for about $20 each. Instead of getting a 3 room boat for 6 people, we decided to have a slumber party and get a two room which we liked better. With a mattress on the floor of each room, it worked out well. There was a deck on top along with the huge main deck. At night we watched the Drama in the Desert DVD on Tom's laptop, and the crew quietly watched from behind us. They were mesmerized with the spectacle of Burning Man. Most of the gang jumped into the river for a dip, and Ori, Tom and Sarah leaped from the roof into the murkey water.